Disarming Act 1715

The Highlands Services Act 1715^[a], also known as the Disarming Act 1715 (1 Geo. 1. St. 2. c. 54), was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain that was enacted to curtail Jacobitism among the Scottish clans in the Scottish Highlands after the Jacobite rising of 1715. The new law, which came into effect on 1 November 1716, aimed at "securing the peace of the highlands in Scotland". It outlawed anyone in defined parts of Scotland from having "in his or their custody, use, or bear, broad sword, poignard, whinger, or durk, side pistol, gun, or other warlike weapon" unless authorised.^[1]

Highlands Services Act 1715^[a]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long title	An act for the more effectual securing the peace of the highlands in Scotland.
Citation	1 Geo. 1. St. 2. c. 54
Territorial extent	Scotland
Dates
Royal assent	26 June 1716
Commencement	1 November 1716[b]
Repealed	13 March 1975
Other legislation
Amended by	Statute Law Revision Act 1867 Statute Law Revision Act 1888
Repealed by	Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1975
Relates to	Bail in Criminal Cases (Scotland) Act 1724
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

However, the act proved ineffectual at enforcing the ban. In 1725 a new act was passed that for "disarming the highlands in that part of Great Britain called Scotland; and for the better securing the peace and quiet of that part of the kingdom". This new law was enforced by Major-General George Wade, who used it to successfully confiscate a significant number of weapons. Wade's efforts to confiscate weapons of war from was proven by the number of antiquated weapons utilised by Jacobites who answered the call when Charles Edward Stuart began the Jacobite rising of 1745 at Glenfinnan in 1745. Nevertheless, Jacobite Army troops quickly acquired many of Brown Bess muskets and bayonets after their victory at the Battle of Prestonpans.^[1]

Subsequent developments

The main articles of the Disarming Act were further strengthened in the Act of Proscription 1746 (19 Geo. 2. c. 39) following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and part XIV of the schedule to, the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1975.

Notes

1. The citation of this act by this short title was authorised by section 1 of, and the first schedule to, the Short Titles Act 1896. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
2. Section 1.